Apparatus for rolling fins on nonrotating tubes or rods

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS COMPRISING A ROTARY HEAD CARRING A PLURALITY OF FINNING ROLLS. THE ROLLS ARE DRIVEN BY PLANET GEARS WHICH REVOLVE ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY STATIONARY SUN GEAR. THE FINNING ROLLS MAY BE MOVED RADIALLY INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE POSITION WHILE THE MACHINE IS RUNNING. SPECIAL LUBRICATING PASSAGES ARE PROVIDED IN THE ROTATING STRUCTURE.

Feb. 23, 1971 A, H NOVAK ETAL APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FINS ON NONROTATINGTUBES OR RODS Feb. 23, 1971 A. H. NovAK ET AL 3,564,887

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FINS ON NONROTATING TUBES OR RODS Filed Aug. 2e,196e v 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS ARTHUR H. NOVAK KLAUS K. RIEGERATTORN'. s

Feb. 23, 1971 A. H. NOVAK ET. A1. 3,564,887

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FINS ON NONROTATING TUBES OR RODS Filed. Aug. 26,1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGB f ne

L L|O l ARTHUR H. NOVAK Y KLAUS K. RIEGER /jzw W WM5/WZL ATT RNEYSINVENTOR s Feb. 23, 197l A H, NOVAK ETAL 3,564,887

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FINS ON NONROTATING TUBES OR RODS Filed Aug. 26,1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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ATTO EYS Feb. 23, 1971 A, H, NQVAK ETAL 3,564,887

APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FINS ON NONROTATING TUBES OR RODS Filed. Aug. 26.1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR S ARTHUR H. NOVAK l KLAUS K. RIEGERATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,564,887 APPARATUS FOR ROLLING FINS NNONROTATING TUBES OR RODS Arthur H. Novak, Southfield, and Klaus K.Rieger, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., assignors to Universal Oil ProductsCompany, a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 755,349Int. Cl. B21d 17/04 U.S. Cl. 72-77 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREApparatus comprising a rotary head carrying a plurality of nning rolls.The rolls are driven by planet gears which revolve about a substantiallystationary sun gear.

The fnning rolls may be moved radially into and out of operativeposition while the machine is running. Special lubricating passages areprovided in the rotating structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present inventionthere is provided a n rolling machine including an input tube into whichtubing or rod to be provided with fins is advanced. The input tube has aportion constituting a sun gear and is connected to means for effectingaccurately adjusted slow rotation in either direction.

The machine includes rotary structure adapted to be driven atsubstantial speeds including a plurality of arbors adapted to supportfinning discs or rolls thereon. The arbors are independently mounted onthe rotating structure for substantially radial adjustment betweeninwardly disposed positions in which the nning discs or rolls engage thework piece, and outward positions in which the peripheries of the fnningdiscs are clear of the work piece. Means are provided for effectingsubstantial radial in and out movement of the nning tools duringcontinued rotation of the rotating structure and during advance oftubular or rod-like work pieces, to provide for initiation andtermination of a nning operation intermediate the ends of the workpiece.

More specifically, the means for mounting the arbors for radialadjustment comprises pivoted brackets and a camming device movablegenerally parallel to the axis of advance of the work piece to force theinning tool arbors inwardly. Outward movement of the arbors to idleposition may depend on centrifugal force developed by rotation of therotary structure or special resilient means, or a combination of both.

Inasmuch as the machine necessarily has a relatively large andcomplicated rotary structure on which gears and firming roll arbors areprovided, the problem of lubricating the bearings for the gears andarbors is solved by the provision of communicating lubricant passagesextending longitudinally of the rotary structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A and 1B together constitute avertical section through the fin rolling apparatus, with some partsrotationally displaced for clarity, the sections designated A, B, C, andD being taken on section lines correspondingly designated in FIGS. 11,12, 13 and 3 respectively.

FIG. 2 is a composite longitudinal sectional view, the portion 2A ofwhich is a sectional view on the line 2A 2A, FIG. 14; and the portion 2Bof which is a sectional view on the section line ZB-ZB, FIG. 14.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4, FIG. 1B.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5, FIG. 1A.

FIG. 6 is a sectional 'View on the line 6 6, FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7, FIG. 1A.

3,564,887 Patented Feb. 23, 1971 ICC FIG. 8 is a sectional view on theline 8 8, FIGS. 1A and 1B.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9 9, FIG. 1B.

FIG. l0 is a sectional view on the line 10-10, FIG. 1B.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11-11, FIG. 1B.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on the line 12-12, FIG. 1B.

FIG. 13 is a composite sectional view, the portion 13A being taken onthe line 13A-ISA, FIG. 4; the portion 13B being taken on the lines13B-13B, FIG. 4; and the portion 13C being taken on the line 13C-13C,FIG. 4.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the arrangement of gearing,looking in the direction of the arrow 14, FIG. 1B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The tube or rod Iinning machine comprises astationary base 10 having bearing stands 12, 14, 16 and 18, each ofwhich is provided with bearing structure indicated generally at 20.There is also provided a stand 22 provided with a bearing structureindicated generally at 2-4 which supports an elongated work inlet tube26 for rotation. The tube 26 is splined as indicated at 28 and isconnected to drive means indicated diagrammatically at 30 which isaccurately adjustable as to speed so as to drive the tube at anaccurately controlled forward or reverse speed as required by conditionssubsequently to be described.

Mounted within the several bearing structures 20 previously described isrotary structure, the parts of which will be described in detail. Therotary structure includes a drive pulley 32 adapted to be driven by abelt 34 at substantial speeds. It will ibe observed that the pulley 32is keyed to a first rotary member 36 which is supported in bearings 20provided in the pedestal or stand 12 at one end and which has a reducedend portion 38 which is received within a generally annular secondrotary member 40. 'Ihe rotary member 40 has a reduced end portion 42extending into a substantially elongated rotary member 44. The forwardor inner end of the tube 26 extends through rotary members 36 and 40 andinto the end of the elongated third rotary member 44. A bearing 46 isprovided intermediate the tube 26 and the end of the rotary member 44.

The forward end of the tube 26 is enlarged as indicated and has externalgear teeth formed thereon as indicated forming a sun gear 50 for thepurpose of driving a planetary transmission, subsequently to bedescribed.

Connected to the forward end of the third rotary member 44 (the righthand end as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B) is a fourth rotary member 54 and afifth rotary member 56. A sixth rotary member 58 is connected to thefifth rotary member 56, the members `44, 54, 56 and 58 al1 beingintertted by annular rabbet connections indicated at 60 in FIG. 1B.These parts are assembled together and are interconnected to the rotarymember 40 by a plurality of assembly rods 62 having threaded ends 64threaded into tapped openings in the second rotary member 40. Themembers are suitably doweled together as indicated at 66. Moreover, themembers are provided with matching oil passages 68'. The forward end ofthe sixth rotary member 58 has a recess 74 which receives the end of afnning head 76, the fnning head being driven by the front or sixthrotary -member 58 by a drive key 78. The bearing 20 carried by the stand16 supports the forward end of the rotary member 58 and the forward endof the nning head is supported by bearing structure 20 carried by thefront stand 18.

Mounted on the `fnning head 76 are three fnning devices 80, details ofwhich are better seen in FIGS. 4 and 13. The fnning devices 80 comprisebrackets 82 pivoted to the fnning head 76 by pivot shafts 84. Brackets82 have tubular portions 86 in which are mounted shafts 487 of arbors88. The arbors 88 at their outer ends are adapted to carry inning rolls`90` in the form of a multiplicity of nning discs as is well understoodin the art. The shaft 87 has its inner end portion 92 extending into auniversal drive unit 94 through which it is driven from a shaftconstituting the output of planetary gearing which will subsequently bedescribed.

Means are provided for effecting substantially radially inward andoutward movement of the nning tools 90 so as to move the finning discscarried by the tools into the advancing tubular or rod-like work pieceand to withdraw or permit outward displacement of the linning tool whilethe machine is in operation. This permits a length of unfinned tube forexample, to be advanced axially through the finning head withoutformation of tins thereon. At a desired point spaced rearwardly from theadvancing unfnned end portion of the tube, fin formation is initiated bysimultaneously camming the firming tools inwardly while the finning headcontinues its rotation about the axis of the tube.

The foregoing is accomplished by providing on each of the tubularportions 86 of the brackets 82 cam blocks 96 having inclined cammingsurfaces 98 engageable by cam- -ming rollers 100 mounted on a shaft 102extending between ears 104 carried by a camming ring 106 which islongitudinally slidable from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1Bleftward to the position indicated in dotted lines in the figure.

The ring 106 carries the inner race 108 of the ball bearing 20intermediate the stands 16 and 18, and the outer race 110 is carried bya support 112 having laterally extending ears 114 connected to pistonand cylinder devices indicated generally at 116 fixedly mounted on posts118 extending upwardly from the base 10. When uid pressure is admittedto the cylinders of piston and cylinder devices 116 the support 112 isshifted axially of the machine, carrying the rotatable ring 106therewith. When the ring 106 is moved from the left to the positionshown in FIG. 1B the roller 100 acting against the inclined cam surface98, will cam the tubular portions 86 of the brackets inwardly to finningposition. Since the bearings intermediate the races 108 and 110` providefor free rotation of the ring 106, the rollers 100 revolve with the cams96 and the radial position of the firming devices 80 may be changedduring continued operation of the machine.

During operation of the machine centrifugal forces urge the finningdevices 80 outwardly and their outwardly displaced position isdetermined by cams 98 and rollers 100. Their inward position issimilarly determined by the cam and rollers and preferably, resilientmeans such as the rubber pads 107.

The foregoing constitutes a very important advantage inasmuch as in tubenning it is often necessary to provide a length of finned tubingintermediate plain or unfinned portions. With the present arrangement,by properly controlling the admission of fluid to the piston andcylinder devices 116, the firming operation may be initiated andterminated as desired during continued advance of the tubing through theapparatus. Of course, it will be understood that where the tinningoperation is depended upon for effecting axial advance of the tubing,the tubing must be advanced by other means while the finning devices 80are in radially outwardly displaced idle position.

In order to limit movement of the finning devices 80, means are providedto correspondingly limit the axial movement of the support 112 and thismeans constitutes an abutment 120 carried `by the nning head 76, movablein an axially extending slot 122 provided in the ring 106.

As indicated at the outset, means are provided for revolving the linningdevices about the axis of the tubing and also for effecting powereddrive rotation of the fmning discs 90. It will be understood that whenthe speed of rotation of the finning rolls or discs 90 is properlycorrelated to the speed of their revolution in orbital path about theaXiS Of the tubing, fins will be produced on the tubing and the tubingwill be advanced axially without imparting any rotation whatsoever tothe tubing. This relationship is however a delicate one and requiresaccurately controlled means for effecting changes in the relative speedof rotation and revolution of the nning tools or discs. This means, aspreviously described, comprises a drive means for the shaft 26, theinner end of which is formed with teeth to constitute a sun gear at 50.This provides the most efficient finning operation. In the past it hasbeen usual to provide for rotation of the tube as a consequence of itsengagement with the nning discs or rollers, or conversely, to providefor rotation of the rolls as a consequence of their engagement with thetube. In the present case however, neither drives the other and the tubeis advanced without rotation while the finning discs are given theproper rotation in accordance with their orbital movement about the axisof the tubing. A second very important advantage of the constructionjust described is that since the tubing is not required to rotate, itmay be advanced from coils or rolls which in turn may be stationary asregards rotation about the axis of advance of the tubing.

The mechanism for effecting rotation of the finning discs about theiraxes as a result of the rotation of the finning head 76 about its axis,-will now be described.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a simplified construction in which the variousgears are illustrated as rotationally displaced to provide a clearpicture of the drive between the various gears. This figure may becompared with IFIG. 14. It will be observed that the sun gear 50, whichfor the time being may be considered as stationary, is in mesh with aplurality, preferably three, planet pinions 124 formed on an elongatedpinion member 125. The pinions 124 have reduced ends 126 journaledwithin appropriately formed recesses 128 in the third rotary member 44.Formed integrally with the pinion 124 is a second pinion 130 and beyondthe pinion 130 the part is reduced as indicated at 132 and is journaledwithin the fourth rotary member 54.

Elongated double pinion members 134 are provided each having pinionportions '136 in mesh with the planet pinions 130 and having additionalplanet pinions 138. Pinion members 134 have reduced end portions 140journaled within the rotary member 44, and reduced end portions 142journaled within the rotary member 58.

Planet pinions 144 are provided in mesh with the pinions 138 and havereduced end portions 146 journaled Within rotary member 56 and reducedend portions 148 journaled in rotary member 58.

Accordingly, the drive from the substantially stationary sun gear 50 isthrough pinions 124, 130, 136, 138 to the pinion 144. The pinion 144 hasreduced an extension 150 of non-circular cross-section which extendsinto the universal joint 94 previously referred to and which istherefore effective to provide for rotation of the shaft 87 which inturn drives the finning rolls 90.

Reference has previously been made to the difficulty of providing forlubrication of the multipilicty of rotary parts carried by the rotaryfinning head 76. =For this purpose interior communicating lubricantpassages are provided as will now be described. Referring first to FIGS.1A and 1B, considered in conjunction with FIG. 2, in which latter figurethe parts are circumferentially displaced for clarity, an inletlubricant fitting 152 is provided which communicates with an annularspace 154 formed in the stationary stand 22. The first rotary member 36is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending oil passages156 which communicate with an annular oil passage 158 formed in thesecond rotary member `40. The passage 158 communicates with an annularpassage 160 which communicates through an inclined passage 162 with thepassages 68 extending longitudinally of the third rotary member 44. Inaddition, the passage 160 communicates through a plurality of axiallyextending passages 1-64 with oil passages 166 extending longitudinallythrough the pinion members 134. Also, oil passage 160 communicatesthrough passages 168 with passages 170 extending longitudinally throughelongated pinion members 125.

Oil passages 68 formed in `the sixth rotary member 58 are connected toexternal tubular fittings 174 which are connected by external conduits176 to the fnning head 76 and thence with longitudinally extending oilpassages 178 formed in the finning head 76 which in turn communicatewith oil passages 180 leading to the journal for the shaft 87 receivedin the tubular portion 86 of the support brackets 82.

It will be understood that small lubricant passages such as illustratedat 182 and 184 in FIG. 2, lead to the journals and that the shaftswithin the journals are provided with helical oil grooves as indicatedin dot and dash lines in several of the figures. No effort has been made-to illustrate all of these oil passages but they will be provided asnecessary to produce an adequate supply of lubricant to the journals.

In operation the belt 34 drives the assembly of rotary members, thefinning head 76 and the adjustable finning tools 90 in such a way as tocause the finning tools to revolve around the tube or rod on which thefins are to be provided. At the same time the finning rolls arepositively driven by the planetary gearing including the substantiallystationary sun gear 50. The tube is observed during the finningoperation and if it progresses slowly in either direction as a result ofa difference between the actual speed of rotation of the finning rollsand the theoretically correct speed of rotation thereof, the drive means30 is adjusted to effect a slow compensating rotation of the sun gear 50in the appropriate direction to vary the speed of rotation of thefinning rolls so that the tubular work piece advances axially withoutrotation.

The absence of torsional stress between the finning rolls and the workpiece, as a result of powered rotation and orbital movement of thefinning rolls, permits finning operations which heretofore have not beencommercially feasible.

In operation, plain tubing may be advanced through the finning deviceswithout forming fins thereon and at any desired zone on the tubing thefinning rolls may be cammed inwardly into operative relation to initiateand continue formation of fins on the tube. The operation results inaxial advance of the tube without rotation and when a desired length offinned tubing has been produced, the piston and cylinder devices 116 maybe operated to permit radially outward movement of the finning heads toinoperative position.

Continued rotation of the assembly of rotary members may be continuouswith intermittent finning as desired, and proper lubrication of theparts which rotate independently within the rotary structure is providedat all times.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved apparatus for rolling fins on non-rotating tubes or rods insuch full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any personskilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which isindicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. Tube fnning apparatus comprising a base, an elongated tubular memberthrough which a tube to be finned is advanced, bearing means on saidbase supporting the tubular member adjacent its rear end for rotationabout its longitudinal axis, the forward end of said tubular memberhaving a sun gear thereon, an elongated planetary gear housing having afirst set of planet pinions in mesh with said sun gear, bearing means onsaid base supporting the rear end of said gear housing for rotation,bearing means intermediate the forward end of said tubular member andthe rear end of said gear housing supporting the forward end of saidtubular member for rotation, an elongated finning head connected to theforward end of said gear housing for rotation therewith, bearing meanson said base supporting the forward end of said gear housing forrotation, bearing means on said base supporting the forward end of saidfinning head for rotation, a plurality of fin roll support drive shaftscarried by said head for rotation therewith, means connecting saidshafts to said first set of planetary pinions for rotation thereby, andindependently movable drive means for rotating said gear housing andfinning head, and said tubular member and sun gear.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the pinions of said firstset of planetary pinions are formed on first elongated pinion members,said members having a second set of pinions thereon, and a third set ofpinions in mesh with the second set of pinions and included in the 0means connecting said first set of planetary pinions to the through andsaid pinion housing includes an annular chamber in communication withthe forward end of said passage, the second passage extending from saidchamber to the forward end of said housing, and means connecting saidsecond passage to lubricating passages in said head.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said first elongated pinionmembers are tubular and constitute oil passage means for carryinglubricating oil to said fifth set of pinions.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 in which said pinion housingcomprises a multiplicity of sections separated generally along planesradially disposed to the axis of rotation, said sections being separableto provide for assembly of the pinion sets therein, and provided withmatching oil passages for carrying oil forwardly therethrough forlubrication of said tinning head,

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said roll support driveshafts are elongated and carry fin rolls at their forward ends, the rearends of said drive shafts being pivotally and driveably connected tosaid fifth set of pinions for rotation thereby, and cam means forrocking said shafts about the rear pivot connections thereof to providefor substantially radial in and out displacement of the finning rolls.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the connections between therear ends of said drive shafts and said fifth set of pinions comprisesuniversal drive units.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,385,498 9/1945 Clifford 72-1002,964,090 12/ 1960 Raydt et al. 72--77 3,379,042 4/ 1968 Brown, Sr.72-96 3,415,090 12/1968 Kirpichnikov et al. 72100 IRICHARD J. HERBST,Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 72-100

